Absolutely spot on. The only thing I really wish what was different right now about the gear is that I'm tied to the Note 3, or Samsung altogether. Still love the phone, but I do have to bring it everywhere now. Where there are days I'd like the HTC one, or the 1020. I just find the Gear too convenient to have now.
@octobermagic: Like you, I believe your comments are the only "functionality" the Gear is missing, and I don't think functionality is the real issue. The so called professional reviewers have knocked the Gear for being limited in functionality, and from the comments that many people post on this and other forums (a majority who do not actually own one), most are just repeating what they heard some reviewer say.
The Gear is NOT limited in functionality by any stretch of the imagination. After all, what more do people think a smartwatch is supposed to do that the Gear is not already doing, and doing well?
In my opinion, if the Gear is limited in anything; I would say it's the fact that it's not compatible with other Android devices. Samsung has made the choice to limit the Gear to the GN3 at launch, with possible compatibility with the GS3, GS4, and the Note 2 at a later time. They have their reasons for making this decision, and as a company they have the right to do so. However, I wish they had made another choice. I wish they had made the Gear compatible with handsets from other OEM's, thus allowing folks like me who own several phones, by several different OEM's, to have the freedom to switch up whenever I like, and still be able to use the Gear. Like you, and everyone else who owns the Gear, we have to always use the GN3 if we want to use our smartwatch.
I don't know if Samsung had problems convincing other OEM's like HTC, LG, Sony, and others to partner with them in this endeavor, and so decided to go it alone. After all, these are all competitors, and they wouldn't want to make it easy for Samsung. Or maybe Samsung decided this was a way to ensure people would be locked into their ecosystem, and thus further separate themselves from their competition? No one really knows. People can only speculate. But no matter the reason, the Galaxy Gear IS a full featured smartwatch. The ability to read email, read and respond to text messages, make and receive calls, snap photos and shoot video, touchscreen technology on a vibrant color display, all packaged with premium materials, and outstanding battery life, make the Galaxy Gear in my opinion worth every bit of it's $299 price tag.